Nine Differing Species of Human Shapeshifters. . . Provincia presents a world where a tenth of the population consists of shapeshifting humans with biform natures. Some varieties are selfish and evil, others are warm-hearted and generous. Diploids are as variegated as the humans around them. Their natures are revealed in a series of conflicts they are involved in. Blood-thirsty harpines, flying sylphine nurses, underground gnomi miners, turtle-like testudinals, oceanic ondinals, blue bear ursines, chatan wildcats, oranoid orangutans, and primate knuckle-walkers participate in the adventures of three primary protagonists. In the end, a way is found of reconciling troubled humans with their secondary diploid forms.